RIYADH: Henk Grewe鈥檚 2021 German Derby winner Sisfahan is set to embark on a trip to 海角直播 in the New Year, with the four-year-old being targeted for the Saudi Cup Group 3 Red Sea Turf Cup Handicap on Feb. 25.
Sisfahan, who runs in the colors of Darius Racing and Michael Motschmann, had been due to line up in the 3,000-meter contest last year, but was forced to miss the race after suffering an injury in training.
Holger Faust, racing manager of Darius Racing, said: 鈥淚t was the plan to run him there last year, but he got injured, so it was disappointing to miss the race.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been thinking about it all year and I鈥檓 glad he鈥檚 come back at the right time this year, so he鈥檚 ready for the race.鈥
After nearly a year off the track, the four-year-old returned in the G1 Preis von Europa over 2,400 meters in September, and built upon that to win the G2 Gran Premio Jockey Club, over the same distance, at San Siro a month later.
鈥淗e had a fracture and an operation in January and for a horse to come back in September is quite early,鈥 Faust said.
鈥淲e didn鈥檛 really have a race for him, but we decided to bring him back in a Group 1 because it was on his home track. He finished last in that race, but we were all fine with that and with his performance.
鈥淲e were quite confident for the race in Italy. He won that race and it was brilliant to see him coming back like this.鈥
Faust is optimistic that his first attempt at 3,000 meters will suit the son of Isfahan. 鈥淭o me he is a classical 2,400-meter horse, but I don鈥檛 think he minds further. When you see him winning his races, he wins with a lot of stamina.
鈥淎lso, when jockeys ride him, they say he鈥檚 hard to stop after his races, so he鈥檚 got this attitude and he looks like a real stayer.鈥
Faust also explained that the decision to race at the Saudi Cup meeting was made as its placement in the racing calendar fits Sisfahan鈥檚 schedule.
鈥淭he races in the spring in Germany, they are not really attractive for a Group 1 winner. Even though the Red Sea Turf is a Group 3 race, it has a high value and it makes sense to run a Group 1 horse in those kind of races,鈥 he said.
鈥淲hen you have a horse of that class, the horse gives everything 鈥 it doesn鈥檛 matter if he runs for EUR50,000 or for EUR2 million 鈥 the horse gives his best, so we thought it would be better to run in this race.
鈥淲ith German races not being very attractive in spring, we thought this way we can give him a pause and then bring him back to European races when the Grand Prix season starts, which in Germany is at the end of July.
鈥淭he Saudi Cup meeting perfectly suits him now, being at the end of February, and if he performs in 海角直播, it鈥檚 possible for him to run on the big day in Dubai as well. Then if everything works out and the horse is sound, he gets a nice break before we see him again.鈥
No runs are planned before February, with the Red Sea Turf expected to be Sisfahan鈥檚 next race.
鈥淗e had a tough program this autumn 鈥 he returned eight months after his injury and ran three races in six weeks. There鈥檚 not really a race for him in December or January, so why look for a race that鈥檚 not really there?鈥
Sisfahan is already well travelled, having run at the Breeders鈥 Cup in Del Mar in 2021, and Faust does not expect him to be fazed by a trip to Riyadh. 鈥淗e鈥檚 completely uncomplicated. He鈥檚 a very calm horse, he travels well. He has a lovely character. Even when he got injured and had to stay a while in his box, there was never a problem.鈥
English jockey Jack Mitchell, who has been in the saddle for each of Sisfahan鈥檚 last three runs, is currently expected to maintain the partnership on Saudi Cup night.
鈥淚 think Jack should stay on board, there鈥檚 no reason to change anything. He gets on well with the horse,鈥 Faust said.
Sisfahan is set to become the first German-trained runner in the Red Sea Turf Cup Handicap, which carries a prize fund of $2.5 million and will be run on the same card as the world鈥檚 most valuable race, the $20 million Saudi Cup.
